As a macro and infrared enthusiast photographer, what better way than to photograph when combining the two photographic disciplines !

So on a recent visit to Alners Gorse butterfly reserve this summer, I just went armed with my Infrared Converted 20D Camera and a 100mm macro lens and a tripod.  (A slight lie – I took a normal colour camera too – just in case of something special).  My 20D has an enhanced colour filter (equivalent to 665nm Filter), so I can shoot looking through the lens, which makes a big difference with macro – as it would be extremely difficult to do if nigh on impossible on a normal digital camera with a filter attached ( you can’t see through them when on the lens ).

I found a set of Oxeye Daisies and shot them with a wide open aperture to deliberately limit the focus to a small part of the image. I set a custom white balance on site, to produce a blue background with the flowers turning white.  Some of the images shown here have had the Red & Blue channels swapped ( a post processing technique often known as the “Blue Skies Effect” in IR land).

This first image has this effect applied to produce the orange look to it from the original RAW image.   It has also been heavily processed in Topaz Adjust – a photoshop plugin, to give a more punchy / canvas type of effect.

Oxeye Daisies in Colour Infrared.  Taken on a IR Enhanced Colour (665nm Filter) Converted Canon 20D, with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens.  ISO 100 F3.5 1/2000.  Red and Blue Channels swapped.

Next up is another colour swapped image of the daisies, similarly treated in Topaz Adjust.

Here’s another shot showing the image from the camera – with just some level adjustments a touch of Topaz Adjustment.

In another batch of daisies, I spotted a Ringlet butterfly hoping about.  Whilst waiting for it to land and pose, I took this image of the flowers alone.  This image has had some level adjustments and a play with the hue / saturation to bring some pinky tones to the petals.

Eventually the butterfly landed, and I took this image from below the flower as it was feeding.

Ringlet Butterfly & Oxeye Daisies in Colour Infrared.  Taken on a IR Enhanced Colour (665nm Filter) Converted Canon 20D, with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens.  ISO 100 F4.5 1/1000.

This last image was taken further round the reserve, when I found some thistles that the Ringlet butterflies appeared to like.

Ringlet Butterfly on Thistle in Colour Infrared.  Taken on a IR Enhanced Colour (665nm Filter) Converted Canon 20D, with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens.  ISO 200 F6.3 1/1320.

About ChrisA

I have been taking photography seriously since 2004. I have a website dedicated to my favourite type of photography - macro @ www.macro-photo.co.uk I also enjoy taking landscape and wildlife shots, which I show on akeyphoto.co.uk I hope you enjoy both websites.

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